The gambling regulator has ordered a month-long suspension of all betting advertisements as authorities move to stem what they regard as the dangerous spread of betting addiction, especially among young people.

• The Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), part of the Executive Office of the President, said on Wednesday that gambling promotions have increasingly misrepresented betting as a viable investment opportunity.
• The new directive halts all forms of gambling marketing for 30 days starting immediately; affecting television, radio, social media, print media, outdoor advertising, mobile campaigns, and celebrity endorsements.
• The regulator is also calling on Parliament to fast-track the Gambling Control Bill, which would bolster its regulatory powers, and the CA to block foreign-operated gambling websites that lack proper licenses.

“The Government remains firmly committed to safeguarding public welfare, protecting the youth, promoting social responsibility, and restoring integrity within Kenya’s gambling sector,” said the directive signed by Chairperson of BCLB, Jane Mwikali.

During the blackout, licensed operators must submit future advertisements to the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) for approval before they can resume promotions. The media sector is also facing new scrutiny, with the BCLB compelling the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) to expedite the development of new programming guidelines after a previous code was declared unconstitutional by the courts.

BCLB has highlighted the frequent airing of gambling ads during the watershed period — between 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.— has exposed minors to gambling at an early age, heightening the risk of addiction.

Kenya also ranks third place among Sub-Saharan Africa’s leading betting markets, with football remaining the top betting choice but the emergence of Aviator — a fast-paced digital game — magnifying concern.

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Intense gambling habits have seen individuals lose thousands of shillings in monthly wages or pile up debt to sustain the addiction. The vice has sown despair among families and communities grappling with reduced incomes, financial misery, and even worse — resultant suicides.

The government is also forming a Multi-Agency Enforcement Team tasked with crafting new strategies for responsible gambling enforcement.

The task force draws members from across major regulatory and investigative bodies, including the Communications Authority(CA), the Kenya Revenue Authority, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Ministry of Interior and National Administration, the Office of the Attorney General, the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB), and the MCK.

The measures are set to leash the gambling industry that has expanded rapidly over the past decade. A recent Geopoll survey reveals that while most Kenyan gamblers spend about KSh 1,300 a month, a small segment spends over KSh 65,000 monthly on gambling, highlighting a growing high-stakes trend.